No More “Buts”

Loren Mooney, editor of Bicycling magazine, is guest blogging for Lucy during Bike to Work Week.

I started biking to work more than four years ago, and today I can't even remember what excuse I used to have for not biking. I've heard just about every excuse there is. They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. I guess that could be true if you're trying to start something that feels like a chore, like eating oatmeal or mowing a lawn. But I remember it took me only about a week to get used to biking to work.

Yes, there was some traffic to deal with, and the grease from the bike chain—at first it seemed to leap from the chain to my leg. There were little things to get used to, but after just a few days I was hooked. Now, even when it’s freezing cold or raining, I’d still rather bike to work than take the subway or drive. When I don’t do it, instead of arriving to work feeling refreshed ready for action I feel tired, lethargic and thirsty for more coffee because I haven’t started my day moving.

So what’s your excuse? The most common one tends to be “I don’t know what bike to use.” That one is easy to solve: Get an inexpensive, yet sturdy and comfortable commuter bike—they come in all shapes and styles. Live too far from work? That’s a legit issue. But you can always drive partway, then ride the rest. I know someone who likes to save time by parking her car at the store, so she can do her shopping on the way home.

Have to be fresh for work? There are a lot of well-known people, from model Agyness Deyn to designer Cynthia Rowley to ER doctor Travis Stork who bike but still manage to stay presentable. They ride easy and keep in mind just a few simple things. A bike commute doesn’t have to be high-sweat, unless you want to get in a workout—another great time saver. That’s the beauty of a bike ride: It’s whatever you want it to be.